The Left Bank Jazz Society was a Baltimore, Maryland- based organization formed in 1964, which hosted a series of concerts featuring nationally acclaimed performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. This collection contains the Left Bank Jazz Society Constitution, news releases, concert programs and flyers, “The Baltimore Jazz Scene” yearbooks, artists files, and publicity photographs of performers between 1964 and the early 1990s.
Citation:
Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection, Collection 312, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).
Administrative/Biographical Note
Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. was founded by Vernon L. Welsh (10 February 1919- 8 August 2002) and Benny Kearse (16 MArch 1930- 29 June 1999) in 1964. Welsh recorded hundreds of jazz performances at the Famous Ballroom during the 1960s and 1970s. Kearse was president of the group, which sponsored 47 concerts per season at its peak. The Left Bank’s first gig was held at the Al- Ho Club, in the 2500 block of Frederick Ave., the year it was founded. The society established a long run at the Famous Ballroom in 1967.
Scope & Content
The Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection is organized depending on the series and subseries. Series I subseries A and B are organized chronologically. Series I is organized alphabetically and Series I subseries C and Series II is alphabetically by last name. Series I: Society Files A: Administrative Files B: Artists’ Files C: Promotional Materials and Publications Series II: Photographs Series III: Scrapbook
Provenance Information
Accessions MSS2020-07 and MSS2020-09.
The collection was initially in the care of Desiree Collins, who discovered the materials in the former home of Mr. Kearse. The materials were then transferred to Second Story Books Inc. The collection was initially housed in clear sleeves, loose papers, and three ringed binders. An additional accretion was transferred to the archive soon after and was consolidated with the collection. Items were separated by and rehoused into archival grade sleeves and folders.
Access & Use
This collection is open for research. There are no restricted materials.
Permission is required for all reproduction requests. Copyright maintained by the creator.
